Golf

Slattery brothers settle the score in a playoff

The likelihood of brothers tying in a major regional tournament is slight, but it happened to Chris and Jim Slattery in the Golfweek/Callaway Golf Pro Scratch at MetroWest in Orlando.

Chris, the head pro at Innisbrook's Island course, and Jim, a Belleair Country Club assistant pro, were paired with two of Chris' former University of North Florida teammates. The format was better ball of each pair.

Rob Ireland, a scratch player from Orlando, and Chris shot 6-under 66 to tie for first with Orlando's Danny Simmerman, who was paired with Jim. A third team, John O'Leary of Lake Nona Country Club and amateur John Robinson, also qualified for the playoff.

After the squads parred the first two playoff holes, the match ended on the third extra hole - the par-4 18th, where Chris' 9-iron approach settled 15 feet from the pin. He proceeded to drain the downhill-breaking putt.

"After my partner hit into the water on that hole, I knew I had to do something for us to stay in it," Slattery said. "I was proud of myself for having made it. But it was even more important for me to make an 8-footer for par on the 18th to continue the match."

The win earned Slattery $1,000 and his team a qualifying spot in the Golf Pro Scratch National Championship next month in Las Vegas. Both Slatterys advance since the top three teams qualify.

Ireland produced four birdies. Chris Slattery had three, plus the critical par putt on 18 to extend the match.

MEN'S INTERCLUB: The October match of the 12-member Pinellas league was hosted by Innisbrook, played at the famous Copperhead course. The big winners were the 10-member Cypress Run team and individually, Jim Slattery emerged at the forefront again.

Cypress Run, paced by the 61 of Joe Paolini and Fred Volini, vaulted to third in the standings behind co-leaders Seminole Lake and Countryside. Slattery mastered the challenging layout with a 1-under 70. He finished seven strokes ahead of Harley Hjerpe of the Bayou Club and eight up over third-place Grant Abrams of Countryside and Brock Nicholas of the host club.

WOMEN PROS: The Oldsmar-based Next Generation Tour saw Clearwater's Jenny Gleason win her first pro tournament on her home course, East Lake Woodlands.

A June graduate of UNC-Greensboro, Gleason shot 74-72 for a 2-over 146 to tie with Allie Bloomquist of California after 36 holes. On the second playoff hole, the 140-yard, par-3 eighth, Gleason drove to within 8 feet and sank the putt for the win.

MEN'S MINI TOUR: Palm Harbor's Brett Weeks finished sixth in a Hooters tournament in Athens, Ala., an 11-under 277. He shot 65 in the second round.

CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP: At the Bayou Club, Mark McLain had to play an extra hole in the 54-hole annual stroke-play tournament to claim the title.

After tying with 227, McLain and Ken Mellem played the 460-yard first hole in the playoff. Mellem's errant tee shot into trees prevented him from reaching the green in regulation. McLain chipped to within 2 feet for the par and his fifth win.

Defending women's champ Mary Critchfield leads after 18 holes with a 79, ahead of Denise Overhart (82) and Leslie Roberts (83) with two rounds to play.

CITY CHAMPIONSHIP: Doug Root's birdie on the 16th hole at Mangrove Bay on Saturday enabled him to take the lead toward a victory in the Skip Alexander City Amateur Championship. He shot par72 to go with an opening-round 1-under 71 for a 143, one stroke better than defending champ Kyle McCarthy.

Danielle Jackson, a Northside Christian sophomore, played steady, firing 77-78-155 for a three-stroke margin over runner-up Chris Martin. Jim Bova, last year's senior runner-up, prevailed with 2-under 70 and 73 for 143. Largo's Dennis Deja topped the guest division, 72-74-146.

COLLEGES: Largo High graduate Courtney Burdick, playing for Florida International, shot 73 in each round for a 219 and tie for second in the Beacon Woods Invitational, hosted by the winning USF Bulls in Bayonet Point.

STATE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP: The Florida women placed 15th in the USGA's annual tournament in Wellesley, Mass. The team consisted of Ann Pohira, Anne Fraser and former state amateur champion Taffy Brower.

The Florida men's squad had to settle for a tie for 21st with Maine. The Sunshine State's representatives were Rick Woulfe, Mike Nealy and Andy Purnell.

Tennessee won the men's title; Ohio claimed the women's.

NEXT GENERATION JUNIORS: At East Lake Woodlands, Seminole's Rachel Edwards and Palm Harbor's Ryan Wells posted the best scores (89). Seminole's Ben Drenth carded a 79 but was disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard.

COMING UP: Countryside Country Club will have a benefit tourney Nov.17 for Chris Melville, the son of the club's head pro, Jim Melville.

Jim, a single parent, has been diagnosed with lung cancer and a brain tumor. The event's proceeds will go into a college fund set up for Chris, 12.

The format is a pro-am scramble featuring the club pros of the PGA's West Central Chapter.

For information, call (727) 560-1120.

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